Purdue News

April 24, 2004

Clayton Smith wins Grand Prix, keeps family tradition on track

WEST LAFAYETTE, Ind. - Despite a flat front tire and a damp track, Clayton Smith finished today's (Saturday, 4/24) 47th Grand Prix at Purdue University in his starting spot of first place, maintaining a family tradition set by two older brothers, an uncle and a cousin.

Racing action
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Smith, a sophomore majoring in aeronautics and astronautics from Mulberry, Ind., battled during the race to reclaim the lead he lost in the 55th lap to two-time Grand Prix champion Timothy O'Brien, of Lebanon, Ohio. O'Brien's No. 3 kart left the track 30 laps before the end of the 160-lap, 50-mile race due to mechanical failure, giving Smith the opening he needed to take the checkered flag.

Smith maintained his lead over second-place finisher John Weida, a senior majoring in management from West Lafayette, Ind., for the remaining 30 laps, even after Smith's left front tire blew five laps before the finish.

"This is a big tradition in our family," Smith said in the winner's circle, flanked by his brothers, Ian and Dustin, his uncle, Tom, and his cousin Kyle, who were all previous Grand Prix winners. Ian, the race's only three-time winner, won in 1993, 1994 and 1995.

Winner celebrates
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"It was nice to win the race, but I'd rather beat my brothers," Clayton Smith said. "That would be more of an accomplishment for me."

Mom Cindy Smith attributed the ability of her three sons to win the race at Purdue to their skill behind the wheel and to the fact that they grew up enjoying the speed of racing.

"Their father had them on a four-wheeler with him by the time they were 3 years old," she said. "I didn't ever worry about their safety. They were with their father, and I knew they were just going to be boys."

The only Smith sister, Shaena, 19, is a Purdue freshman majoring in wildlife biology. She doesn't race, although she does share her brothers' red hair and freckles.

Dan Parras, a sophomore in construction engineering from San Salvador, El Salvador, placed third. Chris Knott, a senior majoring in mechanical engineering technology from Columbus, Ind., placed fourth. Bryan Gresock, a senior majoring in mechanical engineering technology from Sterling Heights, Mich., finished fifth.

The Purdue Grand Prix Foundation is a student-run, nonprofit organization that conducts the kart race and related events to raise money for student scholarships. The foundation awarded seven scholarships totaling more than $7,500 in the 2003-04 school year. The foundation also receives support from Toyota, Kimberly Clark Corp., Purdue Intercollegiate Athletics and WKHY-B102.9 Radio.

Writer: Reni Winter, (765) 496-3133 or (765) 714-4288, rwinter@purdue.edu

Sources: Kim Hall, Grand Prix promotions director, (765) 464-3393 or (219) 869-1553, khall@purdue.edu

Clayton Smith, (765) 743-8887, smith155@purdue.edu

Related Web site:
Purdue Grand Prix Foundation

PHOTO CAPTION:
Purdue University Grand Prix champion Clayton Smith (in kart No. 2) holds a slim lead over two-time winner Timothy O'Brien (in kart No. 3) during the early laps of today's (Saturday, 4/24) race. O'Brien later took the lead, but mechanical problems forced him out with 30 laps to go in the 160-lap race. (Purdue News Service photo/Mark Simons)

A publication-quality photo is available at http://ftp.purdue.edu/pub/uns/+2004/smith-grandprix.jpg

PHOTO CAPTION:
Clayton Smith, winner of today's (Saturday, 4/24) Grand Prix at Purdue University, holds up his trophy as he is surrounded by his mother, Cindy Smith, at far right, and family members who have previously won the race. From left are Tom Smith, an uncle who won the race in 1989; brother Dustin Smith, who won in 1996; Clayton Smith; cousin Kyle Smith, who won in 1998; and brother Ian Smith, who won the race in 1993, 1994 and 1995. (Purdue News Service photo/Mark Simons)

A publication-quality photo is available at http://ftp.purdue.edu/pub/uns/+2004/smith-grandprix2.jpg

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